The theme of the 2019-2020 Presidential Initiatives is grounded in four R’s: Recruit, Reaffirm, Recognize and Retain. Since announcing the Initiatives at the Annual Meeting in February, dates have been set for some of the events and others have already taken place. In addition to attending the first of our National events in South Boston, I have already presented greetings to both the Children of the American Revolution in Williamsburg and the Daughters of the American Revolution in Richmond, as well as attending ceremonies in both Culpeper and Oak Grove and the National Spring Leadership Meting in Louisville, Kentucky.

The importance of Recruiting is obvious. New members are the life blood of our organization. Recruiting, however, is more than just attracting and enlisting new members. As an incentive for recruiting new members, the Chapter grant program initiated by then President Mike Elston and continued under Past President Pat Kelly will continue. I am assured that the rebate checks to the eligible chapters will be going out in the next week or so. We need to continue our work with the CAR and DAR to obtain referrals of those who might be eligible for membership. Recruiting however also includes getting members to serve on Committees, Chapter, State and National, to serve as officers at those levels, and to attract and encourage youth to participate in our Youth Programs, including the Eagle Scout Program, The ROTC/JROTC Program, The Orations, Essay, Poster and Brochures Programs. Chapter or Chapters participating in the most of these programs will again be recognized by the Wayne and Wink Rouse Award. To facilitate youth participation, financial incentives are essential. The Mark S, Brennan, Jr. Fund has been in the forefront of allowing us as a State Society to increase those incentives. I therefore have challenged the Society to add at least $15,000 to this Fund and I will personally match the first $2,000 raised. My check has already been sent and I ask you to do the same. Chapters having individuals who contribute at least $1,000 will be recognized with a streamer and donations will be counted toward commissions or promotions in the First Virginia SAR Regiment. Contributions should be made payable to Virginia SAR, with the Brennan Fund indicated on the Memo line, and sent to our Society Treasurer, Rick Elofson, 21 Paula Maria Drive, Newport News, Virginia 23606.

The second R is for Reaffirm. Every time we recite the SAR Pledge, we commit ourselves to reaffirm our commitment to defend the principles of Liberty and our Constitutional Republic against every foe. As a means of doing so, I challenge you to make every effort to attend the four Nationally recognized events in the Commonwealth. The first of these, the Crossing of the Dan, took place the third week of February. The three remaining are Martin’s Station celebrated on May 11, Yorktown on October 19, and Great Bridge in early December. Chapters having members attending all four events will be recognized with a streamer. A monument will be dedicated later in the year honoring the Culpeper Minutemen. Participation there will also be recognized with a streamer. We also will again be joining with the Society of the War of 1812 in Virginia and will be participating in two ceremonies on June 1, the first a grave marking ceremony at the Cedar Grove Ceremony at 10:00 and the second a plaque dedication at 11:30 at the Trinity Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, Virginia. A program to place markers or monuments honoring patriots and War of 1812 veterans buried or memorialized in each of Virginia’s counties at the Courthouse or other significant location, similar to the recognition given to World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and more recent conflicts has been launched, we expect to dedicate one in Warren County this fall, and further hope to continue this project in years to come. We are also looking ahead, and as part of our Strategic Planning will develop a multi-year plan so that future dedications can include the DAR and veteran’s organizations in such recognition programs.   

The third R is to Recognize. Here there is some overlap with the second R, but as envisioned, we need to focus on recognizing and rewarding those who participate in our programs, giving their time energy, and money to advance our cause. Our Youth Program participants, compatriots, spouses, schools, businesses, and friends who properly display the flag, public servants, particularly our first responders, and elected community officials all richly deserve recognition. 2019 also marks the 400th Anniversary of the arrival of indentured Afro-American at Jamestown and the Williamsburg Chapter’s its 50th Anniversary.
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The last R is for Retain. The challenge here is to communicate with our members, to continuously solicit their input and provide the types of programs that will make them want to get involved. We ended 2018 with a modest but positive growth. Let’s build on it in 2019; it takes a concerted effort on all of our parts.
 
Fraternally, Pete

​A meeting of the Williamsburg Chapter was turned into a re-enactment of a scene that took place on March 23, 1775 – the 2nd Virginia Convention of the House of Burgesses in St. John’s Church in Richmond, VA.   Many members reported present as delegates from various stated counties of Virginia.  Chapter President William Greaf represented Peyton Randolph, President of the House of Burgesses, Harley Stewart represented Edmund Pendleton, and Joseph Bromfield represented Patrick Henry, delegate from Hanover County.  Being duly recognized, Henry presented his resolution to raise a militia in Virginia.  Patrick Henry then proceeded to deliver his immortal speech in favor of the resolution, which  ended with “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death.”  The meeting will be long remembered by the chapter. 
 
The photo shows Peyton Randolph (aka William Greaf, Chapter President) presenting a Certificate of Appreciation and a Jefferson cup to Patrick Henry (aka Joseph Bromfield).
 
Joseph Bromfield began doing reenactments in January 2017 with the St. John’s Church Foundation alternating between the roles of Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry.  Since then, Bromfield has performed Patrick Henry’s  ‘Liberty or Death’ speech for thousands of school children, Virginians, and patriots the world over.  He has performed for Governor and First Lady Northam as well as new American citizens in a Naturalization Ceremony held at St. John’s Church.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart

​Steve Perger and Stephen Holm were inducted into the Williamsburg Chapter at a meeting on August 11, 2019.  Pictured L to R are Perger, Holm, and Chapter President William Greaf, who presented their Certificates of Membership.  Not pictured is Ron Losee, Chapter Registrar, who presented brief biographies of them and their patriot ancestors. 
 
Steve Perger’s ancestor was John Blakeley Jr., soldier 1776 at Chesterfield District, SC; quartermaster 1779 under Major Ross; adjutant under Co. Bratton, wounded at Sumter’s Surprise.
 
Stephen Holm’s ancestor was Francis Lightfoot Slaughter, soldier in Captain Robert Yancey’s First Regiment of Dragoons, Continental Line.
 
Submitted by: Harley Stewart
 

​Tyler and Andrew Coenen were inducted into the Williamsburg Chapter at their home.  Pictured, L to R, are Christine Coenen, their mother; Tyler (age 15); Andrew (age 12); and William Greaf, Chapter President who presented their Certificates of Membership.  Not pictured are Ron Losee, Chapter Registrar, who presented their membership packages and Harley Stewart, Chapter Public Relations, who photographed the occasion.
 
The Coenen boys patriot ancestor is James McMath, soldier, Pennsylvania 3rd Battalion, Chester County under Captain Thomas Carpenter and Lieutenant Colonel John Hannum.
 
Christine Coenen is a member of the Williamsburg Chapter, NSDAR.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart

​Norman Fuss spoke on Virginia’s Royal Governor Dunmore’s Raid on the Williamsburg Magazine on April 21, 1775.  Arms and gunpowder were removed to British ships anchored in the James River.  The act aroused the community  and ignited an escalating series of incidents that led to the expulsion of Royal Authority and British forces from Virginia for the next five years. Mr. Fuss presented many little-known details uncovered by him in his in-depth research of the event.  Fuss is a living history interpreter, a tour guide for the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation, and a consultant for the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.  He has published over two dozen articles related to the Revolutionary War period.  Pictured are Chapter President William Greaf (left) and Vice President Jay Smith (right) presenting Norman Fuss (center) with a Certificate of Appreciation and a Jefferson Cup.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart

The Col. James Wood II Chapter held their annual summer "picnic" on July 27th.  This year's well attended event was held at the historic Wayside Inn located in Middletown, VA.  Built in the 1730's it was the perfect backdrop for the event.  A number of the Charter Members attended with others dressed in colonial and military attire.  All appreciated the picnic style buffet held in one of the air conditioned banquet rooms.  Chapter President Dale Corey officiated.  The Color Guard presented the colors.
 
This year's event was held in honor of the Chapter's Founding Fathers as well as the past presidents of the chapter.  James M. Bayne (VASSAR past president) initiated the discussion of a new chapter back in 2006 and became its mentor.  The first group of officers were formally in place in November of 2007.  With existing SAR members from other chapters living in the Winchester area and surrounding towns as well as prospective new members, the Col. James Wood II Chapter was created. The new chapter was designated in the medium size category.  Since then the Chapter has attained much recognition at the State and National level of the SAR for their community involvement and high level of sustained excellence. 
 
 
Photo 1 L-R  Mike Dennis, Charles Jameson, Marty Keesecker, Paul Christensen
 
Photo 2 Chapter Mentor and past VASSAR President James M. Bayne
 
Photo 3  l-r Past Presidents Steve Bush, Don Dusenbury
 
Photo 4 Color Guard preparing to post the colors

​submitted by Bill Wood

​Joe Jenkins was introduced by Ron Losee, Chapter Registrar, who noted that Joe had returned to Surry County, Virginia, the home of his ancestors, after a career served in New Jersey.  His patriot ancestor was introduced as David Charity, who paid a Supply Tax in Surry County.  Joe Jenkins was then inducted in a ceremony conducted by William Greaf, Chapter President.  Pictured L to R, Ron Losee, Chapter Registrar; Joe Jenkins, compatriot; William Greaf, Chapter President.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart

​Chapter members plus 4th L to R, Celia Adolphi, Regent, Williamsburg Chapter, NSDAR; 5th, 6th 7th L to R, members of the Colonial Williamsburg Militia Unit acting as a color guard, drummer, and fifer.  John Lynch, chapter compatriot, 2nd from L, spoke on the history of the Battle of Green Spring.  4th R to L, William Greaf, President, Williamsburg Chapter.  Celia Adolphi and William Greaf presented wreaths.  At center is a large granite marker placed by the Chapter 11 years ago.  The marker records tribute to six Virginia militia and 22 Pennsylvania continentals buried near it, none of which have been identified.  The location is near the historic Church-on-the-Main, outlined by marking stones.
 
The British army under Lord Cornwallis had been moving down the peninsula shadowed by Colonial units commanded by Lafayette and Anthony Wayne.  But Cornwallis was then ordered to cross the James River and move to Portsmouth and the Jamestown ferry location was selected to do so.  Planning a trap Cornwallis kept his main force hidden in a tree line starting at Gov. Berkeley’s plantation along a causeway – now Green Springs Road – leading to Jamestown.  General Wayne’s troops prevented a disastrous defeat by charging the British causing them to temporarily halt. The result was a draw and successful withdrawal by Colonial units.  Cornwallis did not pursue and the next day was unopposed as his army ferried across the James.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart

​The Battle of Spencer’s Ordinary was fought on June 26, 1781 between Continental troops and Virginia Militia of the army of the Marquis de Lafayette and Loyalist and Hessian troops of the army of Lord Cornwallis.  Patriot troops had been following the British as they moved down the peninsula towards Williamsburg and intercepted some of them near Spencer’s Ordinary, about six miles northwest of Williamsburg.  There was a back and forth engagement ending in a draw and both sides then withdrew.
 
In the first image, Chapter compatriots, including Celia Adolphi, Regent of the Williamsburg Chapter NSDAR and Linda West, Senior President of the George Wythe Society C.A.R. in the center, are gathered around the presented wreaths and the Marker done by VASSAR in the year 2014.
 
In the second image, left to right, are William Greaf, President of the Williamsburg Chapter SAR, Linda West and Celia Adolphi with their organization’s wreaths.
 
Submitted by:  Harley Stewart